Press Release - ARC Broward 50th Anniversary - (2/9/07) (PDF, 33.2 KB)
	Press Release - New Board Members - (12/12/06) (PDF, 34.3 KB)  -  (see also: Board Member Roster)
	The Health Foundation Grant Award - (7/17/06) (PDF, 29.5 KB)
	ARC Broward Nominated for "Freedom Initiative Award" - (6/14/06) (PDF, 31.6 KB)
	Enrollment for Culinary Arts Program Now Open - (5/30/06) (PDF, 29.2 KB)
	Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust Grant Award - (5/25/06) (PDF, 28.7 KB)
	ARC  Broward Serves With PRIDE For Half Century - (5/24/06) (PDF, 32.5 KB)
	ARC Broward End of Year Party Includes "Personal Ponies" - (5/4/06) (PDF, 28.1 KB)
	ARC Broward Preschool Graduation Celebration - (5/3/06) (PDF, 28.5 KB)
	Blue Foundation Grant Award - (4/21/06) (PDF, 15.2 KB)

News Release: Free Disposal of Old Electronics - April 2002

ARC Broward announces a new partnership with the Broward County Office of Integrated Waste Management to develop a pilot program to collect and refurbish or de-manufacture end-of-life electronics. This newly formed partnership provides Broward County an alternative solution for disposal of old electronics - ARC Broward Electronics Recycling Services.

The pilot program is anticipated to be a cost-effective and an environmentally beneficial method of reducing residential and small business end-of-life electronics that could contain potentially hazardous materials such as lead and mercury. The initial focus will be an attempt to reach every household and small business in Broward County and encourage recycling of retired electronics including computers, monitors, televisions, VCRs, telecommunication devices, copiers, printers and fax machines.

ARC Broward Electronics Recycling Services delivers numerous opportunities for ARC Broward and Broward County. First and foremost, it provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to learn valuable and marketable employment skills. Individuals with disabilities will learn to collect and sort electronics and, to some degree, refurbish or recycle. Second, it provides Broward County residents and small businesses with an environmentally safe alternative for disposal of electronics. 14 million to 20 million computers alone are retired each year in the United States and it is estimated that only 10% to 15% are reused or recycled.

Broward County residents, small businesses, not-for-profits and government entities can now dispose of their old electronics in an environmentally safe manner by bringing their old electronics to several drop off collection sites throughout Broward County.

If you are a Broward County resident and would like to donate your retired electronics, you can do so, free of charge at any one of the following drop-off locations:

ARC Broward is proud to announce the opening of its newest children's program, Parents as Teachers (PAT). This voluntary program, which is free to parents of newborn through five-years old children with special needs, provides parents with the information and support they need to give their child the best possible start in life. PAT is based on the philosophy that parents are their children's first and most influential teachers.

Parents as Teachers programs includes personal visits by a professionally trained child development specialist, free developmental screenings, group meetings on a wide variety of child rearing topics, and help finding any other resources beyond the scope of the PAT Program. Additional services including respite care, mental health counseling and in-home behavioral services, will also be available at no cost to families with demonstrated need and who are enrolled in the PAT program. "The goal is to help parents learn new ways to foster their child's language and intellectual growth, curiosity, and social skills," said Debbie Rudnicki, Parents as Teachers Coordinator at ARC Broward.

PAT has received numerous national awards for its effective approach. The success of the program, which started in Missouri in 1981, has enabled expansion to more the 2,200 programs in 49 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada, Japan, West Indies, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Independent studies of the program have revealed that participating families have greater involvement in their children's development and significantly lower risks of child abuse. The Children's Services Council, the organization funding this program at ARC Broward, has targeted reduction of occurrences of child maltreatment, abuse and neglect, as its key funding priority for this project.

"Children don't come with a set of instructions," said Rudnicki. Regardless of education or income level, most parents find issues like discipline, sleep patterns and communicating with their children somewhat bewildering," she says. "We're here to offer alternatives, brainstorm solutions and help parents provide the stimulation necessary for these children in those crucial early years."

All PAT activities are free to eligible families wishing to participate. To learn more about the PAT program or how to enroll, call Debbie Rudnicki at (954) 577- 4162 or (954) 746-9400 extension 4162.

ARC Broward, held a Special Advance Screening and cocktail reception in association with New Line Cinema's release of the film, I AM SAM.

The Special Advance Screening was shown at the Las Olas Riverfront Regal Cinema with the cocktail reception at Murphy's Law. Over 350 people attended the Advance Screening and reception and ARC Broward raised over $5,000 from ticket sales, sponsors and a raffle. The Advance Screening event drew the interest of various support and advocacy groups, schools, elected officials and families throughout Broward County to view a very special film, socialize and support the programs and services offered through ARC Broward.

ARC Broward holds several special events throughout the year for fundraising purposes, but this was the first time they hosted a film release as a fundraiser. I AM SAM was a perfect fit for ARC Broward as it portrays a compelling story of a man with a developmental disability and the challenges he faces in raising a child. This was a great film for a fundraising event, but it was also a great opportunity for ARC Broward to familiarize community with some of the challenges people with disabilities face and the services ARC Broward provides in assisting them with those challenges.

ARC Broward, a private, not-for-profit organization assisting and supporting children and adults with disabilities, was recently granted accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for their early childhood program. This prestigious recognition has been achieved by approximately 7% of early childhood programs nationwide.

NAEYC accreditation is a rigorous, voluntary process by which early childhood programs demonstrate that they meet national standards of excellence. Programs seeking accreditation undergo an intensive self-study, collecting information from parents, teachers, administrators and classroom observations. On-site visits are conducted by early childhood professionals to validate the self-study results. "The heart of NAEYC accreditation focuses on the child's experience," said Barbara Willer spokesperson for NAEYC. "The process carefully considers all aspects of a program including health and safety, staffing, staff qualifications, and physical environment. The greatest emphasis is on the children's relationships with the staff and how the program helps each child grow and learn intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally."

SUNRISE, Florida - ARC Broward, a private not-for-profit organization assisting and supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities will be hosting a weekly Bingo Charity Night every Wednesday at their complex located at: 10250 NW 53 Street in Sunrise. Located off Nob Hill Road, just south of Commercial Boulevard, ARC Broward boasts an easily accessible facility free from traffic and a hot and cold menu from their kitchen for those who like to eat and play.

The Inaugural Bingo Charity Night is scheduled for Wednesday January 24, 2001 with Early Bird play beginning at 6:30 pm and regular session to follow. There will be lots of door prizes given away throughout the night for anyone participating in ARC Broward's newly created fundraiser. "We want everyone to have a great time, says Keith Muniz, VP Marketing and Development for ARC Broward. "We have the support of some corporations and other friends that have donated some nice prizes for us to give away. We want as many people as possible to feel like a winner at the end of the night, but also to feel like they contributed to a worthy cause."

100% of the proceeds generated from the Charity Bingo Night will benefit the children and adults with disabilities that ARC Broward supports. "There is a great need within our community to expand the scope of our services for people with disabilities. To do that we need to generate capital," says Dennis Haas, President and CEO of ARC Broward. ARC Broward was looking for an event that could provide a steady source of income to assist them with meeting those additional needs within the community without sacrificing the high quality standards for which they have become known. "Bingo seemed like a good fit for our needs", says Haas. "We have a beautiful facility that can accommodate up to 350 people. Many people in the surrounding area that have visited us have expressed an interest in attending a social activity/event, such as Bingo that would get them out of the house during the week."

ARC Broward provides a full array of supports for children and adults with disabilities and their families. They have a preschool program supporting special needs children birth through five years old, a school for children with autism in kindergarten through the 5th grade, a vocational work center for adults with disabilities who are developing their job skills, a special program for children and adults who are Deaf and hard of hearing and many others.

In addition to supporting their outreach efforts, some of the money raised from Bingo Nights will go to offset expenses in several programs that ARC Broward is currently operating. One of the more expensive programs to operate is the Children's Preschool program. "We're currently operating at a small deficit level in the preschool program. In an effort to continue to provide above and beyond the quality education we believe all children should receive, we are developing a series of charitable events that will offset the deficits we're forecasting in that program," says Muniz, "Bingo is the first of our planned events to get started. In addition to raising revenue our events will help us to promote awareness for people with disabilities and their incredible potential"

Incorporated in 1956, ARC Broward is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing supports and assistance to children and adults with mental retardation, autism, Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy and various other types of special needs. ARC Broward's mission is to "help people help themselves by providing opportunities for achieving their fullest potential." ARC Broward provides supports and assistance to over 600 children and adults with disabilities and employs over 300 health care, education and other professionals to accomplish their mission. ARC Broward has received numerous awards for their programs in assisting people with disabilities and they are accredited by CARF, The Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission.